The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-24


Just as true now as eighteen hundred
years ago, that 1.-THE harvests are
already white, and the laborers are few"
He knew Of places where, with but lit
tie encouragement, we might establish
permanent churches.
At the close of the discussion, the
President appointed Rev. G. III. Rogers,
Thomas Edmondson, Miss Sadie Rich
ardson, Committee on Public Services.
First Afternoon Session.
AT 2:30 in the afternoon, Convention
called to order, and the Vice-president,
G. H. Trott, of Junction City, who had
was introduced. The topic,
"Are we sufficiently aggressive as a
body ?" was taken up for consideration.
Several addresses were made ON this
topic; the appointed leader, Abijah
Wells, of Seneca, was unfortunately
absent. Reverting to the phraseology
of the topic, DR.. Demarest thought we
were not suffi GENTLY aggressive. He
said that we must preach the fundamen-
tai principles of faith. Such preaching
is needed. He illustrated by unfold
ing our idea of God as a Father. He
thought we were not aggressive enough
with our criticism. Criticise the the
ologies; give the Biblical Interpretation.
Rev. Mr.. Davis said when he first
became a Universalist he soon found
occasion to preach it. We could preach
our faith without offending, and that
we should do. DR.. Dem Arrest again
said that it did not depend entirely
upon the ministry; but the laymen
have an active part. Each layman
should have what we may call a Univer-
salist library-not as much on the phil
osophy, as the elementary topics of the
faith.
The time for the next paper having
arrived, it was called, and Rev. A.
Barnes, of Junction City, came forward
and read an interesting paper on the
subject
"0ught We to Press our Doctrinal Tenets 81
The paper should be printed in full;
but we can only give short abstract.
Mr.. Barnes said-we quote only in sub
stance, not exact language:
We are yet in the morni ng of our exist
ence as church. AS long as the world is in
darkness on the most vital of religious ques
tions, the command will not cease to let oul
light shine. The results which have already
been realized in the change in other doctrines
should excite us to more persistent efforts
Certain places may not demand our doctrine
but in general, there is still great Ignorance
in regard to our peculiar faith. We should
let our light shine.
The question is often asked, Why do moi
our doctrines make greater progress? If SC
true, Why not more readily accepted? The
answer is, that religion as handed down
through the superstitious past does not de-
pend upon reason, but upon weaker passions.
In my own memory it was common to find
11OA WIZ WOAO dOhhOWtCoSCN AOuAOlo Al VI
thodox pulpits, boldly asserting that "book
larnin'" was detrimental to the salvation OF
souls. Many minds still, notably the "Salva-
ton Army" are lingering around this fatal
delusion. And where you find this thought
or quality, they are orthodox in faith. Their
faith requires much credulity and very little
strength of character. The first reason why
= g. l.
wise the simple" Our church has to teal
down and remove the rubbish before we can
begin to build. The other scots have their
distinctive ideas, but they are arrayed
against US.
The characteristic of our church is devotion
to truth, and our Christian work stands sec
ond to no religious organization upon the
globe. And now, as light is just beginning
to shine with a radiance such as never known
before, is it time to stack our arms and re-
tire from the field of conflict? Heaven, with
its voice of glad tidings, says no. We do moi
need to use the same methods to insure sue
cess as were required in the early history OF
our struggle, but we need to preach our glo-
rious faith.
To what ends must we direct our laborsi
This was considered by the essayist to some
extent. We could we'll initiate the orthodox
in religious enterprise. 1t is true that we
need not only to indoctrinate the head; we
need to direct our efforts to spiritualize the
heart and make the life more productive and
earnest.
Mrs. Barnes also spoke very enthusi-
astically upon the subject. She paid a
beautiful tribute to her father, because
he refused to allow her to attend an
orthodox Sunday-school. When she was
young she thought him to be wicked
man for not allowing her to attend such
a school, but now she saw that he was
right, and she thanked him a thou
sand times. Her speech was well re-
ceived.
Rev. Mr.. Woodrow remarked that
doctrinal preaching did not consist of
pitching in" to some one else. He
did not see how person could preach
a sermon without preaching doctrinal
sermon. There is no better reason for
preaching these principles than because
they are true. Freely have we been
receiving and freely let US give. Worship
the Lord because of bis truth.
DIR. Demarest said that, after all, you
will find the preaching of Ballou, Skin
ner, and the other early preachers was
about the same as that of to-day the
truths which they preached are yet de-
manded by the people Of to-day. God
loves the souls even in hell, but it is for